The Fight to defend rights and liberties of the diggers 152 years ago still resonates with activists today. In 1854 British troops and the newly formed Victorian Police attacked and crushed a rebellion of miners at Ballarat. Agitation for democratic reforms had been building for a number of years across the various Goldfields, but it was on the Eureka diggings that this reform movement made a stand, to “swear by the Southern Cross, to stand truly by each other and fight to defend our rights and liberties”.

A number of events occurred to mark the anniversary including a Diggers march from Bakery Hill to the Eureka Monument; a Sunday Dawn Lantern walk; a 4am vigil on Dec 3 at the monument; a dawn oration; a march to Bakery Hill and the Cemetary including presentation of the Eureka Australia Day medals; and a Eureka Day luncheon.Continue reading →